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Borrego Springs, CA

Monday, June 10, 2013

“These Boots are Made for Walking”

Today was a work day for me, and started out with almost two hours of meetings.  First was the weekly staff meeting, and second was the ‘mowing’ committee meeting.  Both Steve and I are in the mowing group, but can’t do anything until someone picks up our steel toes boots.

So, I was off to cover the Booth Lake Sector for the Minnesota Breeding Bird Atlas.  Even though I didn’t get to the location until 10:00 which is quite late for bird surveys, I found more species of birds in the five hours I was out than I had in the other two blocks.

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I didn’t take any bird photos while I was surveying today, but I did find some wild strawberry blossoms. 

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Along with several more blooming columbines.  With the warmer temps and sunny skies today, the mosquitoes and ticks were out in full force.  I lost track of how many ticks I plucked off of myself before I finished today, and had to use the tick tool to remove three that had attached themselves once I got home.  Sad smile

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While I stopped for lunch, I noticed that there was also a huge dragonfly hatch today.  There were just clouds of them as I walked along the drive by one of the lakes.

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I kind of enjoy changing up my picnic lunch location each day I’m working on the survey.  As I munch away on my sandwich, I get to enjoy the scenery, count all the birds I hear singing, and discover some other little things happening in nature.

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One of those little things today was the hatching out of some kind of tent caterpillars.  They are voracious feeders once they are out of the tent, and are one of the reasons that we have so many black-billed cuckoos around.  Cuckoos love to eat caterpillars, and when one discovers this hatch it will be in 7th heaven.  One example of how everything is connected in nature.

I was able to verify nesting proof for three out of the fifty something species I found today in this block.  Biggest bird was the bald eagle with young in the nest.  Next in size was the great crested flycatcher that I found gathering nesting materials.  And last, but not least, was the verification of nesting cliff swallows.  That one was a bit trickier as I had to climb down an embankment near a water structure between Chippewa Lake and the Otter Tail River to verify nests under the culvert.  It was rather steep, and I had to grab some vegetation to keep from sliding down into the water.   I felt a prick on one of my fingers from that, and my finger has been very itchy since then.  I sure hope I didn’t grab some poison ivy.  Disappointed smile

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Do you remember ever seeing this picture that was popular during WWII as women entered the formally male dominated workforce?  They worked in defense plants for the first time since the men were away at war, and began to prove that a woman can do most anything a man can do if she sets her mind to it. 

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Well, that’s how I felt this afternoon once the initial SNAFU at L&M Fleet was overcome, and I received delivery of my steel toed boots.  Remember, several of you requested a picture of me modeling my new boots in shorts and wearing my new hat.  Ignore the wrinkles and veins, and just notice the resemblance to that ‘We Can Do It’ young lady from the past.  Winking smile  I’m thinking when I wear these boots I’m an incredibly tall 5’ 2.5”!  Wahoo!

Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later,  Judy

29 comments:

  1. WoooHoooo... What a fashion statement! I don't scoff at steel toed boots having dropped a 45 pound steel post on my foot a year or so ago. I hope you got the light weight ones... much easier to get around with especially in the summer. Love that photo of you modeling your latest attire!

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  2. I cannot get over the resemblance. Just amazing. You definitely look ready to get on with the job.

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  3. Ha ha! Them ticks won't dare mess with you now that you've got those big tick-kickin' boots!!!

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  4. You got some muscle there girl. Great photo.

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  5. You look like one fine John Deere driver. Hopefully, you won't reap the benefits of those new boots.:-(

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  6. Nice boots. I have collected a number of those WW!! posters-I definitely can see you on one:))

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  7. My 5'7" mothers twin sister was 5"1" and was a real life Rosie the rivetor at the aircraft plant here in St Louis during the war.
    Wrinkles, what wrinkles, all I see are those muscles

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  8. When I had to wear steel-toed boots for work, I had some pretty tight calf muscles! ;)

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  9. Those are some serious looking boots! I wouldn't want to be on the "receiving end" in a tussle! '-)

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  10. You are the 'woman' with a git 'er done attitude. Love the boots!!!

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  11. Oh, Judy, you are SO funny, so sorry we missed each other when going thru New Orleans in 2011, just feel we would have so hit it off... those boots are the bomb!!! Glad you got rid of HLS prior to picture taking ') Don't know how you manage with all of those BUGS.... can't stand bugs, ick!!!

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  12. lmao ... tick kickin boots.. yes, the resemblance to Rosie the Riveter is amazing.. just a different chapeau ...

    Seems you'd be more worried about yer hip than poison ivy... you got a walking stick?

    cuckoos eat caterpillars... I never

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  13. Love the boots - HATE the ticks!!

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  14. The boots are awesome! You definitely are a close match with the War poster girl.

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  15. The pin-up girl hunters will be knocking on the door soon to get you to sign a contract for the next poster ;-))) Nice looking boots ... hope they are comfy.

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  16. You look great in your "work clothes" and able to take on anything including those ticks and mosquitos. This NWR seems a perfect fit for you.

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  17. WOW Judy! You ROCK in that photo! The hat is perfect! Hope your boots break in easy. I actually got my steel-toes at Walmart, even in a woman's size 5. Glad yours arrived and you can experience the joys of mowing! Love the photo; totally awesome!

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  18. Funny, funny! Sexy boots I must say??

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  19. Hahaha...live your rendition of the "working girl!"

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  20. What a nice read to start the day...sure put a smile on my face! You rock in your new working attire. Joe just purchased trekking sticks and loves them...they really help and he says the added benefit is an upper body workout too.

    I can relate to the patience you had to get the dragonfly picture....I have tried and tried! Awesome!

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  21. That is one awesome picture of you in your work get-up! Definitely a keeper.

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  22. Now you've gone and done it!...I am sooo envious of your outfit!! It reminded me of Jane Hathaway on the Beverly Hillbillies...a very jungle like look..Yep, I am now greeeeen with envy, and YOU look maaaaahvolous, dahling!
    P.S. Just the thought of picking off ticks makes me nauseous..I am a huge cry baby when it comes to those..When we went to vacation at our cabin in Hayward WI as a little girl, my Dad use to pick them off of us..Ticks and leeches..BARFO!!!

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  23. SO are you going to road test those new boots by running them over with a lawn mower to see if they protect your toes???

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  24. Those are mighty cool boots, you got there! Love your photo....

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  25. Well if anyone can do it, you SURE CAN!!!! You sweet lady! you are the best follow ever!

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  26. Aw, lucky you! In my home state for the summer? Sur enjoy your blog...

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  27. Good job modeling your boots.

    I'm in the "ewwwww, I can't stand ticks" camp.

    But the job looking for birds with nests sounds really fun. Right up your alley.

    I see that resemblance to Rosie the Riveter.

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